Labour Decline Mayor's Offer

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Bristol's newly-elected Mayor has appealed to Labour councillors to take up his offer of seats on the city's cabinet.

George Ferguson wants to spread the top jobs among each of the main parties, but Labour's National Executive overruled a local decision to do so and has told Councillors aligned with the party not to join in.

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Announcing his resignation, the leader of the Labour party in Bristol, Peter Hammond said:

Earlier today (Sunday) the Labour Party announced that they were not prepared to endorse a proposal from Bristol’s Labour councillors to take up the offer of three seats (out of six) in George Ferguson’s cabinet. As a loyal member of the Labour Party I must and will abide by that decision however flawed I think it is.

– Peter Hammond, Former leader Bristol Labour Party

The announcement came after the Labour party rejected the offer from George Ferguson of seats in his new council cabinet. A decision that left Bristol's new Mayor 'bemused'.

Mr Ferguson was elected as an Independent earlier this month and hopes to put together an all-party coalition. He says he will leave the seats empty for a week to see if Labour Officials change their minds.

I believe this decision is entirely correct. Disappointing as it was, Labour did not win the election on the 15th November. The people of Bristol will expect the Mayor to be able to get on with his job and be accountable for his decisions.

Cross-party working with The Mayor, as important as that will be, is not dependent on holding Cabinet places."

The former leader of Bristol City Council has turned down an offer to become Deputy Bristol Mayor. George Ferguson said on twitter it was because of 'family reasons' and he wished the Labour councillor his 'very best'.